New method to determine restrained-shrinkage stresses in propellant-grain models

This paper deals with the photoelastic determination of restrained-shrinkage stresses which may be produced by curing or by thermal effects in models of solid propellant grains bonded to the case. Use is made of the birefringence exhibited in the curing process of a restrained polyurethane rubber. The techniques developed to take advantage of this property are shown in detail. The method can also be applied to the determination of the residual stresses produced in the curing process of a propellant cast around a rigid insert. An example of this application is also given. The extension of the method, using epoxies, to three-dimensional analyses is pointed out.     

Normalized stresses around an elliptic hole in a finite plate of linear material subjected to large uniform in-plane loading

Stress-concentration factors associated with the large deformations of in-plane loaded plates with elliptic holes are presented in a form with which designers are familiar. An analytic expression to obtain the stress-concentration factor is included.